Dinosaur swapping dancing shoes for running trainers in charity half marathon race

• The Cardiff University/Cardiff Half Marathon returns to the city’s streets on Sunday 7 October
• The NSPCC is the lead charity partner for Wales’ largest road race and the UK’s second biggest half marathon event
• Runners who have signed up for Team NSPCC, like Stephen, are sharing their stories of why they are running the iconic Welsh race for the charity
• The festival of running, which includes a mascot race and other family activities, takes place at Cardiff City Hall on Saturday 6 October

Tuesday 2 October

A YELLOW dinosaur, clad in an NSPCC running vest and green, starry pants, will be among thousands of runners taking part in the Cardiff University Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday 7 October.

Pantosaurus, the NSPCC’s loveable mascot and face of the ‘Talk PANTS’ campaign, will join the other participants for the 13.1mile run, which is Wales’ largest road race and the UK’s second biggest half marathon event.

The man inside the Pantosaurus suit will be Stephen Nutt, a marketing manager with the NSPCC and originally from Llantrisant, who is fundraising for NSPCC Cymru.

The NSPCC is this year’s lead charity partner for the Cardiff Half Marathon and more than 600 runners – including Stephen as Pantosaurus – will be wearing green on race day as part of Team NSPCC.

Stephen said: “I’ve ran the Cardiff Half before but this will be the first time ever in fancy dress.

“When I found out the NSPCC was the charity partner for the Cardiff Half I knew I had to take part. I also decided that if I’m ever going to run in fancy dress then what better to do it in my home city for the charity I work for and such an important cause.

“It’s going to be amazing being part of so many NSPCC runners and hopefully this will spur me along in the dinosaur outfit as it’s going to be a tough slog.

“My strategy was to make the distance as easy as possible so I’m pretty well trained to run the 13.1 miles.

“Running in the outfit is another matter though. I have done one training run in the outfit. Luckily a couple of colleagues came with me as it’s not very easy to see where you’re going. The reaction from passers-by was quite funny.”

Stephen, 32, added: “Having worked for the NSPCC for nearly six years now I know the impact it makes on children’s lives so I’m proud to be able to represent the charity and help raise vital funds in its fight for every childhood.

“The atmosphere will be amazing over the weekend, and I need all the support I can get to get around the course.”

The ‘Talk PANTS’ campaign has helped to reach more than 600,000 children safer since its launch four years ago.

Talking PANTS is designed to teach children that their body belongs to them, they have the right to say no and to tell someone they trust if they’re ever worried about anything.

The PANTS acronym stands for: P – Privates are private; A – Always remember your body belongs to you; N – No means no; T – Talk about secrets that upset you and S – Speak up, someone can help.

Pantosaurus appears in a catchy animation made by Aardman – creators of Morph, Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep – available in both Welsh and English on the NSPCC website where resources for parents can also be viewed and downloaded.

Money raised by Team NSPCC runners taking part in the half marathon will allow the leading children’s charity to continue to support vital services across Wales.

These include ‘Speak out, Stay safe’, which sees specially trained staff and volunteers visiting hundreds of primary schools across the country.

Each assembly they deliver equips pupils with the skills and knowledge they need to recognise abuse and speak out about it.

In 2016/17 alone the charity spoke to more than 58,000 children in over 490 Welsh primary visits.

Support from runners will also benefit three NSPCC service centres in Wales – Cardiff, Swansea and Prestatyn – which provide direct help to vulnerable children and their families.

Des Mannion, head of NSPCC Cymru/Wales, said: “It’s vital that we help children who have suffered abuse and neglect and work to prevent it from happening in the first place.

“The NSPCC carries out a great deal of this work in schools, via Childline and in our service centres. But we want to do more and we need the help of the public to achieve our aims.

“Stephen’s support is very much appreciated and we wish him – and Pantosaurus – the best of luck in the Cardiff Half.”

To sponsor Stephen, visit www.justgiving.com/pantosaurus.

Pantosaurus will also be taking part in the mascot race during the festival of running, which will be held the day before the half marathon on Saturday 6 October at Cardiff City Hall.

To take part in an event for the NSPCC, visit https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-you-can-do.